Foraging Porcini.
Perfect porcini
This was my first time foraging for mushrooms – porcini to be exact. I really was just tagging along because “Butter” is a foraging queen. Also, I just love anytime I get to see her and Jen. We started out early and came back to Jen’s house for an exceptional lunch. Here are some shots that I took. Please also check out Jen’s blog to see some beautiful photos she shot that day.
Not a porcini, but one of the first mushrooms found. Edible, too.
Oyster mushrooms.
Pretty underside.
Jen spotted the first porcini. I call her "Hawkeye" because she's good at looking for them!
I've never seen anyone so excited about anything like Miss Butter was after digging out the first porcini.
A thing of beauty. Smells strongly of earth with a nice mustiness, so intense and amazing.
Butter cradling a porcini.
I think I only spotted a few myself, I'm not as hawk-eyed. ;)
Digging them out is fun. They are heavier than expected, too.
We found a good amount.
A curved paring knife does the trick when cleaning porcini.
Jen shooting, Butter cleaning, and everyone just enjoying being outside and together.
One happy Butter.
One of my favorite porcini. So beautiful.
Expertly being prepared.
Learning about plants from Butter is amazing. This is cow parsnip, it's edible and delicious.
This is called Fireweed. It's one of the first plants to grow after a wildfire and it's also medicinal and edible (best when the plant is young).
Pretty but poisonous mushroom. Never eat it.
Love the contrast of the porcini against the rock.
Flowering berry bush.
I can't recall the name of this...
Butter and Jen.
Do you see the raspberries? We also found strawberries and huckleberries.
Spending time outside in Colorado always makes me happy.